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Monthly Archives: August 2014

The Lamborghini Huracán is Lamborghini’s new replacement for its sales leader and most produced car, the Gallardo. With more than 14,000 copies of the Gallardo sold over two generations the Huracán certainly has big shoes to fill.

Source: Norbert Aepli, Switzerland

The all new Huracán picks up where the Gallardo left off. Like its predecessor, the Huracán has a mid-mounted, naturally aspirated, 5.2-liter V-10 engine. This direct-injected power plant pumps 610 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels via a seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission. The new Huracán has a ton of shared technology with Audi’s next generation R8 due to Volkswagen Group’s ownership of Lamborghini.

Capable of zero to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds, and zero to 124 mph (200 kph) in 9.9 seconds with a top speed of approx 201 mph the Huracán is a true super car. Its blistering speeds are a result of the unbelievable horsepower to weight ratio of 2.36 kg (5.20 lb) per horsepower. With a curb weight of only 1,422 kg (3,135 lb), the car’s chassis is made of carbon fiber and aluminium, destined to please the speed demons.

Having been recently released, the Huracán is now making the rounds to the world’s top tier auto journalists. One of these first reviews comes from the UK’s Autocar who took the Huracán for a spin on the UK roads along with their favourite test track. Make sure you turn the volume up to take in the sensory experience of what it is like to drive a Lambo. We have to agree with the video reviewer as it really is one of the prettiest Lambo designed in the last 25 years. Bravo Lamborghini or should I say Audi AG!

Brian Makse from Autonet has just published his review of the 2014 Porsche 911 GT3. The Porsche 911 GT3 is the ultimate enthusiast car as it is stripped down, powered up and race prepped for the track. The folks who ordered these cars have waited a while for delivery as a result of a major manufacture engine issue. As a result, anticipation has been immense since everyone has been very curious to see what the final product would be on the track. Well, good news Porsche has fixed the engine issue and the models are now being delivered to buyers. And judging from Brian’s review and video this new Porsche does not disappoint and is 100% worth the wait. We so wish we were behind the wheel of this beast on the German test track as you could not ask for more fun. Some guys really do have all the luck!

Having written about the infamous Ferrari F40 several times as it’s one of our all time favourite cars we could not pass on this story. Recently, UK-based supercar reviewers Evo got behind the wheel of a beautiful Ferrari F40 for a 1000 KM drive. Starting in Zürich, Switzerland and finishing back in Britain they were tasked with driving this supercar darling back to its wealthy English owner. After filming themselves drive this masterpiece on some of the World’s best mountain roads it’s no wonder the average car guy/gal envies these car journalists more than life itself. Not surprisingly, getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari F40 is certainly near the top of most car folks’ bucket list. Our only complaint about the video is they do a tad more talking than we would have liked.

Tony Stewart pulled out of the NASCAR race at Watkins Glen Sunday, 12 hours after the three-time champion struck and killed a sprint car driver who had climbed from his car and was on the darkened dirt track trying to confront Stewart during a race at upstate New York’s Canandaigua Motorsports Park.

Kevin Ward Jr. had crashed following contact with Stewart one lap earlier and got out of his car as it was stopped along the fence. Video of the incident showed Ward walking from his crashed car onto the racing surface as cars circled by, and, as he gestured at Stewart’s passing car, he was struck.

Authorities questioned Stewart but said no criminal charges were imminent. Stewart travelled to Watkins Glen International following police questioning.

Stewart released a statement Sunday afternoon that read as follows: “There aren’t words to describe the sadness I feel about the accident that took the life of Kevin Ward Jr. It’s a very emotional time for all involved, and it is the reason I’ve decided not to participate in today’s race at Watkins Glen. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone affected by this tragedy.”

Greg Zipadelli, competition director for Stewart-Haas Racing, said at a news conference that Stewart “feels strongly” about not racing Sunday following Kevin Ward Jr.’s fatal accident. The decision was an about-face for the organization, which had previously said that Stewart would race on Sunday.

“We gave Tony some time to sleep on it. He feels strongly this is the right thing to do,” Zipadelli said. “All you can do is what you feel is right, and we feel this is right. We get through today and do it the best we can as a group.

A witness said it appeared Ward was trying to confront Stewart, the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion. The video showed Ward standing to the right of Stewart’s familiar No. 14 car, which seemed to kick out from the rear and hit him.

Moments earlier, Ward and Stewart were racing side-by-side for position as they exited a turn. Ward was on the outside when Stewart, on the bottom, seemed to slide toward Ward’s car and crowd him toward the wall. The rear tire of Stewart’s car appeared to clip the front tire of Ward’s car, and Ward spun into the fence.

Ward, who was wearing a black firesuit and black helmet, had walked into the racing area and one car swerved to avoid him before he was struck by Stewart.

“The next thing I could see, I didn’t see (the other driver) anymore,” witness Michael Messerly said. “It just seemed like he was suddenly gone.”

A spokesman for Stewart’s racing team called Ward’s death a “tragic accident.”

The dirt track located about 30 miles southeast of Rochester cancelled the remainder of the race and later posted a message on its Facebook page encouraging fans to “pray for the entire racing community of fans, drivers, and families.”

Ward’s website kevinwardracing.com says he began racing go-karts in 1998 at age 4, but didn’t start driving sprint cars until 2010. The 20-year-old from Port Leyden, New York, was Empire Super Sprint rookie of the year in 2012 and this year was his fifth season racing the Empire Super Sprints.

Stewart often competes in extracurricular events like the race on Saturday. The multimillionaire is known to participate in races with purses worth less than $3,000 and drive alongside drivers of varying ages and talent levels.

“Everybody has hobbies. Everybody has stuff they like to do when they have downtime, and that’s just what it is for me,” he said last month following his return to sprint car racing. “That’s what I like to do when I have extra time. I don’t think there is anything wrong with doing it. I feel like there are a lot of other things I could be doing that are a lot more dangerous and a lot bigger waste of time with my time off do than doing that.”

He’s struggled a bit this year since returning from his leg injury, and heads into Sunday’s race winless on the season and ranked 19th in the standings.

The site of Saturday night’s crash is the same track where Stewart was involved in a July 2013 accident that seriously injured a 19-year-old driver. He later took responsibility for his car making contact with another and triggering the 15-car accident that left Alysha Ruggles with a compression fracture in her back.

The folks at Car and Driver recently posted a very cool story about Land Rover setting a new record with their upcoming Range Rover Sport SVR. This new record is not something you see everyday as it is the fastest lap time around the 12.9-mile Nordschleife loop ever for a production SUV. At 8 minutes and 14 seconds the record is definitely impressive as it is 20 seconds quicker than its next competitor the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

This is an extra incredible feat when you compare the Range Rover with sports cars that are hundreds of pounds lighter, inches off the ground and have the maximum aerodynamics. For example, the Dodge Viper SRT10 roadster of ten years ago finished only a second faster over the same circuit. And the original Aston Martin Vanquish was three seconds slower. This, from a giant square, four-door SUV that will spend most of its life shuttling celebrities and pro athletes around big cities.

According to Land Rover, to get the record number it has stiffened the SVR’s anti-roll bars, modified the eight-speed automatic, and recalibrated the four-wheel-drive system for greater response. Having reviewed both the 2014 Land Rover Supercharged and Sport model earlier this year, we are well aware of these lions in sheep’s clothing. And judging from the incredible fun we had in the 2014 Land Rover Supercharged we can hardly wait to get behind the wheel of this new monster rig when it comes to Canada in 2015.